Remaining Chibok girls to be released soon – FG

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Alhassan, said on Thursday the remaining Chibok girls that are still in Boko Haram captivity would be released soon.

Alhassan stated this at the farewell dinner organised by the ministry in honour of the 106 released school girls after about eight months rehabilitation period in Abuja.

She said the Federal Government was still negotiating the release of the remaining Chibok girls and other citizens in Boko Haram captivity.

“The Federal Government has never relented in the negotiation and I want to assure you that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“I appeal to their captors to come to the table and negotiate the release of those in captivity,’’ the minister said.

Alhassan said the that girls were fit and ready for school again, adding that the federal government was fulfilling its promise to the girls by ensuring they were enrolled back in schools with their bills paid and necessary items for school provided.

She said when the girls were released President Muhammadu Buhari told the world that the girls had seen the worst and promised that they would be given the best.

“The government is fulfilling that promise as we all know. The girls have been at the rehabilitation centre for a long time and as a new school year begins, they will be in one of the best schools – the American University of Nigeria (AUN) where they will start a special foundation programmes like a pre-degree.”

“Since their release, we have been giving them therapy to make them understand that challenges are a part of life and whatever happens to one in life is God’s will,” she added.

The Country Representative of United Nations Women, Ms Comfort Lamprey, commended the efforts of government in ensuring the general well-being of the girls.

She advised the girls to be responsible ambassadors of the North East, adding that the remaining Chibok girls would be released soon.

The Deputy Representative of UNICEF, Mrs Peinille Ironside, said the girls’ return to their community was a new chapter in their lives.